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The Women's Amateur
Williamson maintains home hopes in Women's Amateur
Home favourite Amelia Williamson ensured she will celebrate her birthday in style tomorrow after progressing to the last-32 of the 119th Women’s Amateur Championship at Hunstanton.
22 Jun 22
3 mins
Boosted by local support on another gorgeous day over the Norfolk links, Williamson won an all-England tie against Rosie Belsham 2&1 to continue her title hopes.
Williamson, who holds the women’s course record at Hunstanton, turns 22 tomorrow and will face Carolina Melgrati on her birthday morning – one of five Italian players to reach the last-32. “I'm happy that I get to play golf on my birthday,” she said. “That's what I was kind of motivated by today, I just really wanted to be here tomorrow. “I've been a member at quite a few clubs growing up in my childhood. So a lot of the members at the clubs that I've been a member at have come to support me from many, many years ago which is really nice.”Italian charge
Emilie Alba Paltrinieri, who finished runner-up in stroke play qualifying, also continued to impress after a 3&2 triumph over Swede Elice Fredriksson. Letizia Bagnoli, Anna Zanusso and Alessandra Fanali, at the 19th against Marta Lopez Echevarria, were the other Italians to win. Sweden’s Ingrid Lindblad, second on the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®), again caught the eye as she advanced after beating Perla Sol Sigurbrandsdottir from Iceland 3&1. Lindblad said, “I didn't make a single bogey, so it was a lot of pars and some good chances on the par-5s for eagles. I made a couple of birdies and it was kind of fairway to green. You have to keep hitting fairways, keep hitting greens, putting pressure on your opponent. “We don't play in a lot of wind on this kind of course at home, so you don't get to see this a lot. It's nice to get out here and figure it out. I’m feeling confident for the next round.”Opportunities for winner
With this week’s winner earning places in the AIG Women’s Open, US Women’s Open, The Amundi Evian Championship and, by tradition, an invitation to the Augusta National Women's Amateur Championship, Lindblad will hope to continue her form. Curtis Cup player Annabell Fuller – the beaten finalist in 2020 – also maintained her quest to land the title with a 2&1 victory over Katri Bakker from Finland, as did her Great Britain and Ireland team-mate Hannah Darling, who had to battle back to defeat England’s Isabelle Simpson 2&1. Fuller said, “I didn't really make too many big mistakes. I was pretty solid. I made more sensible choices I guess off the tee which means I had a lot more pars than being aggressive. Today I went for a couple more pins but it's kind of the difference between stroke play and match play. “It would be unreal to win. It would be really nice. Not last year, but the year before, being so close. It's hard to come back and not want the same thing again but obviously turn out to be better.” Darling added, “Isabelle’s a good player. She does what she does well. It's always tough, and she was rolling in some putts here and there as well and making birdies. She was definitely putting pressure on me but then it came towards the end and I started making some birdies. “It would be amazing to win. It would be great but, at the end of the day, it’s taking one step at a time and see if it happens.”
Anna Zanusso and all four of the other Italian players in the last-64 won their ties to reach the next round at Hunstanton.